Agent for treatment of schizophrenia

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a novel method for treatment of schizophrenia which can improve wide-ranging symptoms of schizophrenia, especially positive symptoms and negative symptoms without being accompanied by extrapyramidal symptoms, which comprises orally administering as an active compound (1R,2S,3R,4S)-N-[(1R,2R)-2-[4-(1,2-benzoisothiazol-3-yl)-1-piperazinylmethyl]-1-cyclohexylmethyl]-2,3-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptanedicarboxyimide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof (e.g., hydrochloride) at a daily dose of 5 mg to 120 mg once a day to a patient with schizophrenia, and a therapeutic agent to be used in said method.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 14/471,919, filed Aug. 28, 2014, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/525,021, filed Feb. 18, 2005, which is a 371 of International Application No. PCT/JP2003/010490, filed Aug. 20, 2003, which is based upon and claims the benefits of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/404,927, filed Aug. 22, 2002. The entire contents of all of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a novel method for treatment of schizophrenia and a novel therapeutic agent used therein. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for improving schizophrenia without being accompanied by extrapyramidal symptoms by orally administering a prescribed dose of a specific bicycloheptane-dicarboximide derivative once a day, and a therapeutic agent used in said method.

BACKGROUND ART

Schizophrenia (split personality) is a kind of endogenous psychosis, and it is developed mainly during adolescence, and after a chronic course, the personality of patient is progressively decayed, and some of patients may culminate in a mental decay. The symptoms of this disease are, for example, positive symptoms often observed during the early stage of the disease such as hallucination, delusion, etc., or negative symptoms such as apathy and withdrawal, or cognitive dysfunction such as impairments of concentration and learning abilities, etc. Moreover, there are other symptoms such as depression, anxiety, etc. as related symptoms thereof.

Medication is mainly employed in the treatment of schizophrenia, but the treatment of schizophrenia should be continued for a long time, and even though schizophrenia is once healed, there is a large risk of reoccurring of schizophrenia after drug withdrawal so that it is necessary to continue the medication forever. Therefore, any side effects of medication may always be serious problems, and based on this perspective, it has been desired to develop a medicine being suitable for prolonged medication.

The agents for treatment of schizophrenia are various medicaments such as ones classified in the category of antipsychotic, for example, phenothiazine derivatives (e.g., chlorpromazine, methoxy-promazine, etc.), thioxanthin derivatives having a similar structure to phenothiazine (e.g., chlorprothixene, flupentixol, etc.); benzamide derivatives (e.g., sulpiride, sultopride, etc.), thienodiazepine derivatives (e.g., clotiazepam, etizolam, etc.), and further butyrophenone derivatives (e.g., haloperidol, triperidol, etc.), diphenylbutylamine derivatives (e.g., pimozide, etc.), etc.

However, phenothiazine derivatives, phenothiazine analogues, and butyrophenone derivatives may cause serious side effects of extrapyramidal symptoms showing parkinsonism such as the stiff gait of skeletal muscles, tremor of muscles, lack of facial expression, salivation, etc. Further, diphenylbutylamine derivatives may cause extrapyramidal symptoms in addition to insomnia. In addition, these conventional antipsychotics may be effective on only some of symptoms among positive symptoms, negative symptoms, cognitive dysfunctions of schizophrenia, and there has been no drug being effective on all of these symptoms.

Therefore, it has been desired to develop a safe medicament which exhibits an excellent effect on various schizophrenia as an antipsychotic without causing side effects such as extrapyramidal symptoms.

On the other hand, it has been known that the imide derivative of the following formula, which was found by the co-workers of the present inventors, may be useful as an antipsychotic (c.f., neuroleptic agent, antiaxiety, etc.), especially as an agent for treatment of schizophrenia, senile insanity, manic depressive psychoses, and nervous breakdown ( U.S. Pat. No. 5,532,372).

wherein Z is

D is a group of the formula: —(CH₂)_(p)-A-(CH₂)_(q)—, G

etc., and Ar is an aromatic group, or an aromatic heterocyclic group, etc.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present inventor has intensively studied on a series of imide derivatives with respect to many aspects including a use and a dose thereof in order to find a novel agent for treatment of schizophrenia, which may exhibit an excellent effect in the treatment of schizophrenia and have no side effect such as extrapyramidal symptoms, which are often observed in many conventional antipsychotics, and can safely be administered for long time. As a result, the present inventors have found that (1R,2S,3R,4S)-N-[(1R,2R)-2-[4-(1,2-benzolsothiazol-3-yl)-1-piperazinylmethyl]-1-cyclohexylmethyl]-2,3-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-dicarboximide of the following formula:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof such as a hydrochloride thereof is effective for relieving the wide-ranging symptoms of schizophrenia, and may treat schizophrenia quite safely without being accompanied by extrapyramidal symptoms by orally administering a prescribed dose thereof once a day.

Namely, the present invention provides a method for treatment of schizophrenia without being accompanied by extrapyramidal symptoms by orally administration of a prescribed amount of (1R,2S,3R,4S)-N-[(1R,2R)-2-[4-(1,2-benzoisothiazol-3-yl)-1-piperazinyl-methyl]-1-cyclohexylmethyl]-2,3-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptanedicarboximide of the above formula (1) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof once a day, and further provides an agent for treatment of schizophrenia which is used in said method.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a graph showing the change with time in scores of Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale: BPRS, which are indexes for the effects on schizophrenia, of the active compound of the present invention, (1R,2S,3R,4S)-N-[(1R,2R)-2-[4-(1,2 benzoisothiazol-3-yl)-1-piperazinyl-methyl]-1-cyclohexylmethyl]-2,3-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptanedicarboximide hydrochloride and placebo in the double blind clinical trial.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

As shown in Examples as described hereinafter, when orally administering a prescribed dose of (1R,2S,3R,4S)-N-[(1R,2R)-2-[4-(1,2-benzoisothiazol-3-yl)-1-piperazinylmethyl]-1-cyclohexylmethyl]-2,3-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptanedicarboximide hydrochloride once a day for 6 weeks to the patients with schizophrenia in the acute exacerbation, the present inventors have found that the excellent effects on the wide-ranging symptoms were obtained, and surprisingly, any extrapyramidal symptoms as observed in the conventional antipsychotics were hardly observed, especially, abnormal electrocardiogram which progresses to sudden death is not recognized, and hence, that this compound may be quite safely used in the treatment of schizophrenia.

Namely, the present invention provides a novel method for treatment of schizophrenia improving a wide-ranging schizophrenia including positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and cognitive dysfunction, especially positive symptoms and negative symptoms, without being accompanied by extrapyramidal symptoms which comprises orally administering a prescribed dose of (1R,2S,3R,4S)-N-[(1R,2R)-2-[4-(1,2-benzoisothiazol-3-yl)-1-piperazinylmethyl]-1-cyclohexylmethyl]-2,3-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptanedicarboximide of the above formula (1) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, especially a hydrochloride thereof, to a patient with schizophrenia once a day.

The present invention also provides a novel agent for treatment of such schizophrenia.

According to the present invention, excellent improving effects on the wide-ranging symptoms of schizophrenia may be obtained by orally administering (1R,2S,3R,4S)-N-[(1R,2R)-2-[4-(1,2-benzoisothiazol-3-yl)-1-piperazinylmethyl]-1-cyclohexylmethyl]-2,3-bicyclo[2.1.1]-heptanedicarboximide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for example, a hydrochloride, at a daily dose of 5 mg to 120 mg, preferably at a daily dose of 10 mg to 100 mg, more preferably at a daily dose of 20 mg to 80 mg, once a day. Further, in the therapeutic method of the present invention, side effects such as extrapyramidal symptoms such as parkinsonism, dyskinesia, akathisia, etc., abnormal electro-cardiogram, hepatic dysfunction are hardly observed, and hence, the present method may be quite safely used and suitable for a prolonged medication.

Besides, when the present method is applied to a patient with schizophrenia in chronic phase, the above active compound should preferably be administered to said patient for a long time at a dose as low as possible, and in such a case, the daily dose of the active compound is in the range of 5 mg to 80 mg, preferably in the range of 5 mg to 60 mg, more preferably in the range of 10 mg to 40 mg, and it is orally administered once a day.

The therapeutic agent used in the method for treatment of schizophrenia of the present invention is in the form of an oral preparation, which contains the compound of the above formula (1) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, especially (1R,2S,3R,4S)-N-[(1R,2R)-2-[4-(1,2-benzoisothiazol-3-yl)-1-piperazinylmethyl]-1-cyclohexylmethyl]-2,3-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptanedicarboximide hydrochloride in an amount of 5 mg to 120 mg; preferably in an amount of 10 mg to 100 mg, more preferably in an amount of 20 mg to 80 mg per a single dosage unit. The oral preparation includes, for example, tablets, granules, fine granules, powders, capsules, syrups; etc. These preparations should be in the form of a preparation for administration once a day.

The above preparations may be prepared by a conventional method by using a conventional pharmaceutically acceptable carrier which is usually used in the preparation of a conventional pharmaceutical formulation, for example, excipients such as lactose, white sugar, glucose, starch, calcium carbonate, kaolin, talc, crystalline cellulose, silicic acid, etc., binders such as water, ethanol, gelatin, carboxymethylcellulose, shellac, methylcellulose, gum arabic, tragacanth powder, polyvinylpyrrolidone, etc,, disintegrating agents such as sodium arginate, agar powder, laminaran powder, sodium hydrogen carbonate, polyoxyethylenesorbitan fatty acid esters, sodium laurylsulfate, stearic acid monoglyceride, etc., lubricants such as purified talc, stearate, boric acid powder, polyethyleneglycol, etc.

EXPERIMENTS

The method for treatment of the present invention and the effects thereof are illustrated in more detail by Experiments as described hereinafter.

The active compound SM-13496used in Experiments means (1R,2S,3R,4S)-N-[(1R,2R)-2-[4-(1,2-benzoisothiazol-3-yl)-1-piperazinyl-methyl]-1-cyclohexylmethyl]-2,3-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptanedicarboximide hydrochloride, and the meanings of the abbreviations used in Experiments are as follows.

-   DSM-IV: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th     ed. -   CGI-S: Clinical Global Impressions scale-Severity of Illness -   CGI-I: Clinical Global Impressions scale-Improvement -   AIMS: Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale -   EPS: Extrapyramidal symptoms -   LOCF: Last Observation Carried Forward (LOCF Analysis: a method of     using last not-missing data in cases of dropouts) -   BAS: Barnes Akathisia Scale -   SAS: Simpson-Angust Rating Scale (Rating Scale For Extrapyramidal     Reactions) -   PANSS: Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (Rating Scale For     Positive Negative symptoms)

Experiment 1 First Stage Phase II Clinical Trial (1) Test Method

According to the procedures as shown in Table 1 as described below, the placebo-controlled double blind experiment was done on 149 patients with schizophrenia in the acute exacerbation phase at 15 facilities in USA. The efficacy and safeness were studied when SM-13496 at a dose of 40 mg or 120 mg, or a placebo was orally administered once a day for 6 weeks after placebo washout.

TABLE 1 Name of A double-blind, randomized, fixed dose, placebo- Clinical Trial controlled, parallel-group, 6-week, efficacy, safety, and tolerability study of two dose levels of SM-13496 in patients with schizophrenia by DSM-IV criteria who are experiencing an acute exacerbation of symptoms Purpose The efficacy and safety on patients with schizophrenia in the acute exacerbation phase (DSM-IV criteria) were studied in the placebo-controlled, parallel-group, double-blind test. Subjects Selection criteria: 1) Patients with scchizophrenia determined according to DSM-IV criteria who are experiencing an acute exacerbation of symptoms 2) Patients having 42 or more of Extracted-BPRS Score as well as 4 or more of CGI-S Score 3) Patients having less than 2 of Simpson-Angus Score as well as less than 3 of AIMS Score 4) Patients suffering from schizophrenia for more than 1 year 5) Males and females aged 18-64 years Factors for patient exclusion: 1) Patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia 2) Patients being taking depot injections before finishing the therapy cycle 3) Patients having a strong suicidal ideation 4) Patients with Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer disease, drug addiction, convulsive disorders, epilepsy 5) Pregnant women and any women having a possibility of pregnancy, and lactating women 6) Patients having drug hypersensitivity 7) Any patients who are examined not to be suitable as subjects by principal investigator Design of Placebo-controlled, randomized, comparison with Clinical Trial parallel-group, double-blind Dosage and Oral administration of the test compound at a dose of Administration 40 mg/day, 120 mg/day or a placebo once a day for 6 route weeks Washout with placebo for one week (at least for 3 day) Hospitalization during the washout period and two weeks after medication Combined 1) Another antipsychotic is not administered. When Drug and another antipsychotic is taken, then it is necessary Combination to set up a washout period before the trial at least 3 Therapy days for oral drug or for one therapy cycle for depot injection. 2) In case of onset of extrapyramidal symptoms, then the administration of an antiparkinson agent is allowed. 3) In case of onset of insomnia, lorazepam is used. Number of In the planning stages: 132 subjects (each 44 subjects subjects for the placebo-treated group, the 40 mg-treated group and the 120 mg-treated group) After the completion of the trial: 149 subjects (50 subjects for the placebo-treated group, 50 subjects for the 40 mg-treated group, and 49 subjects for the 120 mg- treated group) Evaluation Efficacy: PANSS, Extracted-BPRS, CGI-S/I Items Safety: EPS Rating scale (Simpson-Angus, Barnes, AIMS), vital signs (body temperature, blood pressure, pulse), 12-lead electrocardiogram, laboratory test [hematologic test, biochemical test of blood, prolactin, urine test], psychosomatic conditions, eyeground-slit- lamp microscopy, adverse event

(2) Test Results 1) Evaluation of Efficacy

-   (i) The data by BPRS and PANSS (LOCF), and CGI-S and CGI-I at the     end of the trial are shown in Table 2 and Table 3, respectively. As     is shown in Table 2 and Table 3, the reductions in the scores at the     end of the trial (6 weeks after the administration) from those prior     to the administration in the groups treated by SM-13496 40 mg or 120     mg are statistically significant as compared to that in the     placebo-treated group with respect to BPRS, CGI-I and CGI-S     evaluations. With respect to PANSS evaluation, the reduction in the     score at the end of the experiment in the SM-13496 120 mg-treated     group is statistically significant as compared to that in the     placebo-treated group, which means the psychotic manifestations are     improved by SM-13496.

TABLE 2 Dose (No. of Subjects) Placebo SM-13496 40 mg SM-13496 120 mg (45) (47) (44) Rating Average Average Average scale (SD) (SD) p value^(#) (SD) p value^(#) BPRS −4.0 (8.45)  −10.0 0.014 −11.3 (8.89)  0.003 Total (12.79) Score PANSS −5.8 (14.06) −14.1 0.063 −17.4 (15.70) 0.010 Total (23.10) Score ^(#)Two-sided Dunnett's t-test (comparison between the groups treated by each dose and the placebo-treated group) Covariance analysis using faculty and Groups as factors and the values before administration as covariate

TABLE 3 Dose Placebo SM-13496 40 mg SM-13496 120 mg Rating Average Average Average Scale (SD) (SD) p value^(#) (SD) p value^(#) CGI-S (n = 41) (n = 41) 0.004 (n = 40) 0.002 0.0 (0.77) −0.7 (1.12) −0.8 (1.03) CGI-I (n = 45) (n = 47) 0.013 (n = 42) 0.005 4.0 (1.41)  3.2 (1.56)  3.0 (1.29) ^(#)Two-sided Dunnett's t-test (comparison between the groups treated by each dose and the placebo-treated group) Covariance analysis using faculty and Groups as factors and the values before administration as covariate

-   (ii) Further, the appended FIG. 1 shows the changes in BPRS total     score (LOCF). As is shown in FIG. 1, the BPRS scores in the     SM-13496-treated groups are statistically significantly reduced from     those of prior to the administration as compared to that in the     placebo-treated group at the 2 weeks or later (p<0.05). -   iii) The ratio of the patients of which the BPRS reduction at the     end of the experiment is 20% or more, or the patients who showed 1     or 2 of CGI-I, those patients are considered as responder, is shown     in Table 4. As is apparent from Table 4, there was a statistically     significant difference between the SM-13496 40 mg- or 120 mg-treated     group and the placebo-treated group.

TABLE 4 Dose (No. of Subjects) Placebo SM-13496 40 mg SM-13496 120 mg (45) (47) (44) Number Number p value^(#) Number p value^(#) Responder 10 26 0.002 22 0.007 ^(#)Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test adjusting the faculties (comparison between the groups treated by each dose and the placebo-treated group)

2) Evaluation of Safety

-   (i) Adverse events observed in 10% or more of the patients are shown     in Table 5.

TABLE 5 Placebo 40 mg 120 mg Number of Subjects 50 50 49 Number of subjects showing adverse 36 (72) 40 (80) 38 (78) events (%) Number of subjects showing serious 3 (6) 3 (6) 3 (6) adverse events (%) Number of subjects who drop out from 2 (4)  6 (12)  6 (12) the trial due to adverse events (%) Occurrence of Adverse events (%) Digestive disturbance  6 (12) 4 (8) 2 (4) Nausea 2 (4)  5 (10) 11 (22) Headache  5 (10)  8 (16) 3 (6) Akathisia 0 (0) 4 (8)  7 (14) Free-floating vertigo (excluding 3 (6)  6 (12)  5 (10) rotatory vertigo) Suppression  5 (10)  9 (18)  7 (14) Drowsiness 2 (4) 4 (8)  5 (10) Exacerbation of schizophrenia  5 (10) 2 (4) 1 (2)

-   Subject having multiple adverse events was accounted as 1.

As is shown in Table 5, 114 subjects among 149 subjects (77%) showed adverse events, but most of them were mild or moderate ones. The number of subjects who dropped out from the trial due to the adverse events was higher in both of the groups treated by two doses of SM-13496 than in the placebo-treated group.

The main adverse events are suppression, nausea, headache, akathisia, and free-floating vertigo (excluding rotatory vertigo). The ratio of the subjects showing suppression was 10%, 18%, 14% in the placebo-treated group, the SM-13496 40 mg-treated group, and the SM-13496 120 mg-treated group, respectively. In the SM-13496 120 mg-treated group, nausea was more observed as compared to the other groups, but digestive disturbance was less observed than in the placebo-treated group. Exacerbation of schizophrenia was less observed in the SM-13496 40 mg- and 120 mg-treated groups (4% and 2%, respectively) than in the placebo-treated group (10%). Akathisia was observed only in the SM-13496 treated groups, i.e., 8% and 14% in the 40 mg-treated group and in the 120 mg-treated group, respectively. The occurrence of the adverse events in the groups treated by SM-13496 were the same as that in the placebo-treated group. Either body weight gain, bulimia, impotence, erectile dysfunction or convulsion was not observed.

-   (ii) The serious adverse events observed in the above phase II     clinical trial are shown in Table 6 as described below.

TABLE 6 Placebo 40 mg 120 mg Number of Subjects 50 50 49 Total (%) 4 (8) 3 (6) 2 (4) Occurrence of Serious Adverse Events (%) Exacerbation of 0 (0) 1 (2) 0 (0) paranoia Psychosis aggravated 0 (0) 1 (2) 0 (0) Exacerbation of 4 (8) 1 (2) 1 (2) schizophrenia Paranoid 0 (0) 0 (0) 1 (2) schizophrenia

As is shown in Table 6, the serious adverse events were observed in 4 cases of the placebo-treated group, 3 cases of the SM-13496 40 mg-treated group and 2 cases of the SM-13496 120 mg-treated group, but the relationship to the tested medicament was denied.

-   (iii) Further, the side effects observed in this clinical trial are     listed in the following Table 7.

TABLE 7 Placebo 40 mg 120 mg Number of Subjects 50 50 49 Occurrence of side 22 (44) 33 (66) 35 (71) effects (%) Mental disturbance Restlessness 0 (0) 1 (2) 1 (2) Psychosis aggravated 0 (0) 0 (0) 2 (4) Agitation 0 (0) 0 (0) 1 (2) Agitation aggravated 0 (0) 0 (0) 2 (4) Anxiety aggravated 0 (0) 1 (2) 0 (0) Insomnia 0 (0) 1 (2) 1 (2) Exacerbation of 0 (0) 0 (0) 1 (2) insomnia Nightmare 0 (0) 0 (0) 1 (2) Metabolic disturbances and nutritional disturbance Anorexia 1 (2) 1 (2) 0 (0) Decrease in appetite 1 (2) 1 (2) 1 (2) Disturbance in Skin and Hypodermis Pruritus 1 (2) 0 (0) 0 (0) Infection and parasitosis Tinea pedis 0 (0) 0 (0) 1 (2) External otitis 0 (0) 1 (2) 0 (0) Parotiditis 1 (2) 0 (0) 0 (0) Urinary tract 0 (0) 1 (2) 0 (0) infection Vascular diseases Flushing 1 (2) 0 (0) 0 (0) Hot flashes 0 (0) 0 (0) 1 (2) Disturbance in respiratory organ, chest and mediastinum Laryngopharynx pain 0 (0) 1 (2) 0 (0) Breathing difficulty 0 (0) 0 (0) 1 (2) Heart problems Sinus tachycardia 0 (0) 0 (0) 1 (2) Palpitation 0 (0) 0 (0) 1 (2) Gastroenteric disturbance Nausea 2 (4) 4 (8)  9 (18) Vomiting 0 (0) 2 (4) 3 (6) Constipation 1 (2) 2 (4) 0 (0) Diarrhea 3 (6) 3 (6) 0 (0) Loose stools 0 (0) 0 (0) 1 (2) Tongue disturbance 0 (0) 1 (2) 0 (0) Dyspepsia 2 (4) 3 (6) 2 (4) Flatulence 0 (0) 1 (2) 0 (0) Dry mouth 1 (2) 0 (0) 0 (0) Salivary 1 (2) 0 (0) 0 (0) hypersecretion Abdominal pain 2 (4) 0 (0) 0 (0) Total disability and local condition Fatigue 3 (6) 3 (6) 1 (2) Fatigue aggravated 0 (0) 1 (2) 0 (0) Hot sensation 1 (2) 0 (0) 0 (0) Sleepiness 1 (2) 1 (2) 2 (4) Nervous system disorder Suppression 3 (6)  9 (18)  7 (14) Akathisia 0 (0) 4 (8)  7 (14) Free-floating vertigo 0 (0)  5 (10)  5 (10) (excluding rotatory vertigo) Drowsiness 2 (4) 4 (8)  5 (10) Headache 3 (6)  6 (12) 1 (2) Extrapyramidal 0 (0) 1 (2) 3 (6) disease Tremor 0 (0) 3 (6) 3 (6) Akathisia aggravated 0 (0) 1 (2) 0 (0) Dystonic reaction 0 (0) 1 (2) 0 (0) Anarthria 0 (0) 0 (0) 1 (2) Glossoplegia 1 (2) 0 (0) 0 (0) Cogwheel rigidity 0 (0) 0 (0) 1 (2) Trismus 0 (0) 0 (0) 1 (2) Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue disorder Muscle stiffness 1 (2) 2 (4) 1 (2) Myalgic pain 0 (0) 0 (0) 1 (2) Cervical rigidity 0 (0) 1 (2) 0 (0) Articular rigidity 0 (0) 1 (2) 0 (0) Melalgia 0 (0) 0 (0) 1 (2) Heavy feeling 0 (0) 1 (2) 0 (0) Laboratory assay Increase in prolactin 0 (0) 1 (2) 1(2) level in the blood Increase in creatine 0 (0) 1 (2) 0 (0) phosphokinase level in the blood Abnormal 1 (2) 0 (0) 0 (0) electrocardiogram Weight loss 1 (2) 1 (2) 2 (4) Increase in total 0 (0) 1 (2) 0 (0) protein Abnormal liver 0 (0) 0 (0) 1 (2) function tests Renal Injury and urinary disorder Polyuria 1 (2) 0 (0) 0 (0) Frequent urination 1 (2) 0 (0) 0 (0) Ocular disturbance Blurred vision 0 (0) 1 (2) 1 (2) Dry eye 1 (2) 0 (0) 0 (0)

As is shown in Table 7, among the adverse events, the main side effects, a relationship of which to the SM-13496 cannot be denied, was suppression, nausea, akathisia, free-floating vertigo (excluding rotatory vertigo), sleepiness, headache. The occurrence of dystonic reaction was low (less than 4%) in the SM-13496-treated groups. There was no clinically significant change in 12-lead electrocardiogram. There was no significant difference in the ratio of the patients having an abnormal change in laboratory values among the groups. In the SM-13496-treated groups, the moderate increase in the prolactin level in the blood was observed, but there was no clinically significant change in the body temperature, respiration rate, funduscopic examination and slit-lamp microscopy.

-   (iv) Further, the results of the evaluation for dyskinesia (by     AIMS), akathisia (by BAS), parkinsonism (by SAS), those symptoms     being extrapyramidal symptoms, are shown in Table 8.

TABLE 8 SM-13496 SM-13496 40 mg* 120 mg* Placebo* Average Average Rating Scale Average (SD) (SD) p value^(#) (SD) p value^(#) AIMS 0.7 (2.63) 0.7 (2.88) 0.978 0.2 (2.21) 0.467 BAS** 0.0 (0.97) 0.1 (1.04) 0.687 0.4 (0.94) 0.352 SAS −0.1 (0.96)  0.1 (1.08) 0.588 0.1 (1.11) 0.808 ^(#)Two-sided Dunnett's t-test (comparison between the groups treated by each dose and the placebo-treated group) Covariance analysis using faculty and Groups as factors and the values before administration as covariate *n = 44-47 for each rating score **BAS Global score

As is apparent from the results in Table 8, there was no significant difference in the changes in the score prior to the treatment or in the total score between the treated groups. The ratio of the patients requiring benztropine was 24% in the SM-13496-treated groups and 18 in the placebo-treated group.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The method for treatment of schizophrenia and the agent intended to be used therein of the present invention exhibit an excellent effect on the improvement of wide-ranging schizophrenia including positive symptoms, negative symptoms, cognitive dysfunctions, especially positive symptoms and negative symptoms, without accompanied by extrapyramidal symptoms by orally administering a prescribed amount of (1R,2S,3R,4S)-N-[(1R,2R)-2-[4-(1,2-benzoisothiazol-3-yl)-1-piperazinylmethyl]-1-cyclohexylmethyl]-2,3-bicyclo-[2.2.1]heptanedicarboximide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, especially a hydrochloride thereof once a day to a patient with schizophrenia. Besides, since the present method and the agent used therein do not cause an abnormal electrocardiogram which may progress to sudden death, or do not show excessive suppression effects, they may be quite safely employed and may be suitable even to a prolonged medication, and further they may be applied safely to even elder patients, and hence, the present method and the agent used therein are extremely excellent. 

1. (canceled)
 2. A method of treating psychosis with an antipsychotic agent, comprising: selecting an antipsychotic agent that provides incidence of convulsion no greater than that in a placebo-treated group; orally administering once daily to a patient with psychosis a pharmaceutical composition comprising said antipsychotic agent, wherein the antipsychotic agent comprises (1R,2S,3R,4S)-N-[(1R,2R)-2-[4-(1,2-benzoisothiazol-3-yl)-1-piperazinylmethyl]-1-cyclohexylmethyl]-2,3-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptanedicarboximide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the antipsychotic agent is (1R,2S,3R,4S)-N-[(1R,2R)-2-[4-(1,2-benzoisothiazol-3-yl)-1-piperazinylmethyl]-1-cyclohexylmethyl]-2,3-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptanedicarboximide hydrochloride.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the method treats schizophrenia in the patient.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the daily dose is 20 mg.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein the daily dose is 40 mg.
 7. The method of claim 4, wherein the daily dose is 60 mg.
 8. The method of claim 4, wherein the daily dose is 80 mg.
 9. The method of claim 4, wherein the daily dose is 120 mg.
 10. The method of claim 3, wherein the method treats manic depressive psychosis in the patient.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the daily dose is 20 mg.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the daily dose is 40 mg
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the daily dose is 60 mg.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein the daily dose is 80 mg.
 15. The method of claim 10, wherein the daily dose is 120 mg.
 16. A method of treating psychosis with an antipsychotic agent at an incidence of convulsion no greater than that of placebo, comprising: selecting and orally administering once daily to a patient with psychosis a pharmaceutical composition comprising an antipsychotic agent, which induces convulsions at a rate no greater than placebo, wherein the antipsychotic agent comprises (1R,2S,3R,4S)-N-[(1R,2R)-2-[4-(1,2-benzoisothiazol-3-yl)-1-piperazinylmethyl]-1-cyclohexylmethyl]-2,3-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptanedicarboximide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the antipsychotic agent is (1R,2S,3R,4S)-N-[(1R,2R)-2-[4-(1,2-benzoisothiazol-3-yl)-1-piperazinylmethyl]-1-cyclohexylmethyl]-2,3-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptanedicarboximide hydrochloride.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the method treats schizophrenia in the patient.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the daily dose is 20 mg, 40 mg, 60 mg, 80 mg or 120 mg. 20-23. (canceled)
 24. The method of claim 17, wherein the method treats manic depressive psychosis in the patient.
 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the daily dose is 20 mg, 40 mg, 60 mg, 80 mg or 120 mg. 26-31. (canceled)
 32. The method of claim 2, wherein the treatment is conducted for six weeks.
 33. The method of claim 3, wherein the treatment is conducted for six weeks.
 34. The method of claim 16, wherein the treatment is conducted for six weeks.
 35. The method of claim 17, wherein the treatment is conducted for six weeks.
 36. The method of claim 19, wherein the treatment is conducted for six weeks.
 37. The method of claim 25, wherein the treatment is conducted for six weeks.
 38. A method of treating psychosis with an antipsychotic agent, comprising: selecting an antipsychotic agent that does not induce convulsions in patients at a greater occurrence than the occurrence of convulsions in psychotic patients not treated with antipsychotic agent; and orally administering once daily a pharmaceutical composition comprising said antipsychotic agent to a patient with psychosis, wherein the antipsychotic agent administered is (1R,2S,3R,4S)-N-[(1R,2R)-2-[4-(1,2-benzoisothiazol-3-yl)-1-piperazinylmethyl]-1-cyclohexylmethyl]-2,3-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptanedicarboximide hydrochloride; and wherein the psychosis is schizophrenia or manic depressive psychosis.
 39. The method of claim 38, wherein the daily dose is 20 mg, 40 mg, 60 mg, 80 mg or 120 mg.
 40. The method of claim 38, wherein the treatment is conducted for six weeks.
 41. The method of claim 39, wherein the treatment is conducted for six weeks. 